I am working on a fictional story that concerns The Queen's Own Corps of Guides, Punjab Frontier Force. I know the Guides were the first to wear the khaki, but I'm interested in finding specifics on the pattern and colors of the officer's puggarees and the turbans (pukris?) of the native soldiers. All the illustrations I've seen show an intricate pattern of light blue and gold (yellow?). Are there any extant photos or specifics on the pattern of these? Thanks, Frank Coffman

The answer you seek would depend on what date your story is set. Your refer to the "Queen's Own Corps of Guides, Punjab Frontier Force"- a title granted in 1876. Is your story set during the last 25 years of the C19th ?

This is a very interesting subject, and in all possibility my not have a specific answer for the earlier periods however, as a rule British officers of the Guides did not wear Indian style review order uniform.

As for the actual description (and colours) of the helmet puggaree, I consider that the British officers wore the Indian officers turban material with 'gold' bars indicative of rank.

Circa 1900, for Indian officers of Guides Cavalry, the 'Puggri' was described as " Blue Peshawar Loongee" with Gold bars; I believe this is what British officers used on their helmets; and in all possibility would have been adhered to in earlier years.

Best try and get a good photo of an Indian officer of the Guides and a good photo of a British officer of the Guides with his helmet, and a colour painting and try to work out the arrangement of colour srtipes and gold bars.

acanthus wrote:This is a very interesting subject, and in all possibility may not have a specific answer for the earlier periods however, as a rule British officers of the Guides did not wear Indian style review order uniform.

As for the actual description (and colours) of the helmet puggaree, I consider that the British officers wore the Indian officers turban material with 'gold' bars indicative of rank.

Circa 1900, for Indian officers of Guides Cavalry, the 'Puggri' was described as " Blue Peshawar Loongee" with Gold bars; I believe this is what British officers used on their helmets; and in all possibility would have been adhered to in earlier years.

Best try and get a good photo of an Indian officer of the Guides and a good photo of a British officer of the Guides with his helmet, and a colour painting and try to work out the arrangement of colour srtipes and gold bars.

Spelling correction and in terms of possible? changes, I also meant to mention that their title as Corps of Guides came under the heading of Punjab Irregular Force until 1865, after which they came under the heading of Punjab Frontier Force as the Corps of Guides; this remained current until March 1876, when their title changed to Corps of Guides (Queens Own), but still under the heading of Punjab Frontier Force.

There is a photo of Wigram Battye in Shadbolts history of the Afghan War; you can see the arrangement of stripes and gold bars on the end of his turban hanging down over his left shoulder; working out specific colours will be difficult.

jf42 wrote:The answer you seek would depend on what date your story is set. Your refer to the "Queen's Own Corps of Guides, Punjab Frontier Force"- a title granted in 1876. Is your story set during the last 25 years of the C19th ?

acanthus wrote:This is a very interesting subject, and in all possibility may not have a specific answer for the earlier periods however, as a rule British officers of the Guides did not wear Indian style review order uniform.

As for the actual description (and colours) of the helmet puggaree, I consider that the British officers wore the Indian officers turban material with 'gold' bars indicative of rank.

Circa 1900, for Indian officers of Guides Cavalry, the 'Puggri' was described as " Blue Peshawar Loongee" with Gold bars; I believe this is what British officers used on their helmets; and in all possibility would have been adhered to in earlier years.

Best try and get a good photo of an Indian officer of the Guides and a good photo of a British officer of the Guides with his helmet, and a colour painting and try to work out the arrangement of colour srtipes and gold bars.

Spelling correction and in terms of possible? changes, I also meant to mention that their title as Corps of Guides came under the heading of Punjab Irregular Force until 1865, after which they came under the heading of Punjab Frontier Force as the Corps of Guides; this remained current until March 1876, when their title changed to Corps of Guides (Queens Own), but still under the heading of Punjab Frontier Force.

There is a photo of Wigram Battye in Shadbolts history of the Afghan War; you can see the arrangement of stripes and gold bars on the end of his turban hanging down over his left shoulder; working out specific colours will be difficult.

THANKS MUCH for these suggestions. I'll see what can find on the Blue Peshawar Longee. And I'll see if I can locate a copy of Shadbolt. -- Frank

Frank,Photos of the British officers of the Guides taken in the field during the Afghan War show some of their helmets with what appears to be a plain puggarees however, others seem to have stripes even though the puggarees are of a similar width.

The white foreign service helmet with the broad regimental puggaree (which we would all like to own), was generally (in my view) worn with full dress.

Given your time period, the description Blue Peshawar Loongee with gold bars is absolutely correct for Indian officers and non commissioned officer, and in my view, would also be correct if you wanted to illustrate a British officer wearing a broad regiment puggaree on his helmet. The men wore a Khaki Puggaree with Khaki fringe. Native Officers of Infantry wore a Khaki puggaree with gold bars and gold fringe.